Electronic voting machine

ABSTRACT

An electronic voting machine including a video screen containing the projected names of candidates or propositions being voted, utilizing a film strip containing individual frames having images projected onto the video screen by a light source, wherein photooptical information transmittal circuits are actuated by the light source projecting the voting image and, by means of controlled light sensitive areas on the film strip, energizing phototransistor units in the system to activate voting buttons, check film alignment, operate vote counters and identify the vote, whether it be cumulative, a proposition or an ordinary vote, with the information furnished by the phototransistor units being read by photosensitive logic units which transmit information to the projector and counter units.

United States Patent [191 McKay et al.

[ ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINE [75] Inventors: Richard II. McKay, Wheaton;Paul G. Ziebold, Chicago; James D. Kirby, Palos Park; Douglas R. Hetzel,Chicago; James U. Snydacker, Wheaton, all of Ill.

[73] Assignee: Frank Thornber Co.

[22] Filed: Nov. 16, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 307,121

[52] US. Cl 235/54 F, 235/51 [51] Int. Cl G07c 13/00 [58] Field ofSearch... 179/2 AS; 346/37, 1; 235/52, 235/54 F, 51

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,674,512 4/1954 Bogert etal. 235/52 2,923,771 2/1960 Avery et al. 346/37 3,328,803 6/1967Schwerin 235/52 X 3,689,930 9/1972 Strickland 346/1 1451 Feb. 19, 1974Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-U. WeldonAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Mann, Brown, McWilliams & Bradway ABSTRACT Anelectronic voting machine including a video screen containing theprojected names of candidates or propositions being voted, utilizing afilm strip containing individual frames having images projected onto thevideo screen by a light source, wherein photo-optical informationtransmittal circuits are actuated by the light source projecting thevoting image and, by means of controlled light sensitive areas on thefilm strip, energizing phototransistor units in the system to activatevoting buttons, check film alignment, operate vote counters and identifythe'vote, whether it be cumulative, a proposition or an ordinary vote,with the information furnished by the phototransistor units being readby photosensitive logic units which transmit information to theprojector and counter units.

17 Claims, 1141 Drawing Figures PATENTED FEB 19 I974 SHEEI'OIUF 11afisslsms PATENTEH FEB 19 mm saw near 11 PATENTEDFEBIBIBM 3793.505 MN"on or 11 PATENTEU FEB 1 9 I974 sum '01 or 11 Pmmfinrsmmm r 3.793.505

saw our 11 PATENTED FEB 1 9 I574 I saw oaoru mm J ELECTRONIC VOTINGMACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to anelectronic voting machine similar in many respects to that disclosed incopending application Ser. 269,558 filed July 7, 1972, but incorporatesphototransistor information pick-up units energized through lightsensitive areas of a film strip, which also projects voting images intoa video-screen, and utilizes photosensitive logic units to feedinformation from the phototransistor units to a projector and to counterunits.

Electrically operated voting machines of the prior art have includedvote counting devices and some have included a scanning device forreading ballots that have been marked by voters. Various tabulatingapparatus have been provided and, while certain of the prior disclosureshave included push-button voting, with projecting arrangement wherecandidates and voting propositions are light projected onto a videoscreen for the voters choice and with the light source projecting one ormore light beams through light sensitive areas of the film to activatephototransistor units which feed information through logic reading unitsto the light projector and to vote counting units.

Prior art information reveals use of selector buttons for voting oncandidates or referendum issues, various interlock arrangements forrestricting voting according to prescribed conditions, computertechniques which afford rapid cumulative results, central officerecording of votes cast, photoelectric scanning of ballots for countingvotes,e ectromechanical equipment for completing and summarizing voteresults, data storage cards punched automatically by a machine fortabulation by standard computers, centralized voting systems, andmachines for furnishing printed sheets of electron returns.

Voting machines have been proposed that utilized conventional ballotswhich are marked by the voter and the vote registered in the machine andcounted. Various types of counting machines for counting manually markedballots have also been proposed. Information retrieval systems have beendisclosed in combination with remotely controlled voting systems such asthose utilizing a telephone hook-up. Multiple totalizers have beenproposed capable of counting and reading output or results from anymachine and mechanical counters have been proposed in combination withelectronic counters which check the results of the mechanical counterand total the results from a plurality of such counters. However, noneof these prior devices has sug gested the combination of features hereinconceived, involving theinformation feeding and reading elementscomprised of the film strip projecting voting images on a video screenand light beams through light sensitive areas of the film ontophototransistors, to activate voting buttons, and to align the film, andto identify voting categories, with the phototransistors feedinginformation through logic units to the light projecting means and tocounter units.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is the primary object of this invention toprovide an electronic voting. machine of the type utilizing a videoscreen, wherein light beams are used to activate voting elements.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an electronic votingmachine of the type utilizing a video screen, wherein phototransistorunits are activated by light beams from a light source projecting imagesonto the video screen.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electronic votingmachine of the type utilizing a video screen, wherein light beams from aprojector are used ,to activate phototransistors which'control theoperation of voting buttons selected in accordance with images appearingon the video screen.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an electronic votingmachine of the type utilizing a video screen, wherein a light projectorprojects images from a film strip onto the video screen and light beamsonto phototransistors through beam producing light spots on the filmstrip.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electronic votingmachine of the type utilizing a video screen, wherein a film strip isused to project an image on the video screen and light dots on the filmare associated with each image to project light beams onto lightsensitive elements which activate voting elements, align the film stripand identifying voting categories.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an electronic votingmachine of the type utilizing a video screen, wherein a film strip isused to project successive images onto the video screen and one or moreseries of light dots is disposed adjacent to an edge of each frame onthe film strip to project lightbeams into correspondingly alighed lightsensitive elements which activate voting elements, selected by votersrelative to voting images appearing on the video screen.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electronic votingmachine of the type utilizing a video screen, wherein a film strip isused to project images onto the video screen and a series of light dotsis disposed on the film strip for projecting light beams onto lightsensitive elements including a row of light dots which activate lightsensitive elements controlling operation of voting buttons and filmstrip alignment and a row of light dots which activate light sensitiveelements which control the operation of vote counters and identifiesvoting categories as well as to check film strip alignment.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an electronic votingmachine of the type utilizing a video screen wherein a plurality oflight sensitive electronic switches are actuated to on position by lightbeams projected through light dots in a blacked out area of a film stripwith a light source projecting images on the film strip onto thevideoscreen and the light beams onto the electronic switches.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electronic votingmachine of the type utilizing a video screen, wherein a light projectorprojects images onto the video screen from a film strip and light beamsonto phototransistor units through light dots in otherwise blacked outareas of the film strip with information from the phototransistor unitsbeing fed to logic units which transmit the information to votingselector buttons and to the light projector and to one or more counterunits.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing and other and more specificobjects of the invention are attained by the construction andarrangement illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a general front elevational view of an electronic votingmachine constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view illustrating a generally blocktype diagram of the system of cooperating elements of the voting machineindicating the flow of information from the phototransistors to thelogic units, to the projector'and to a counter unit;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the relationship of the projector, filmstrip and'video screen showing the light beams projecting through lightdots of the blacked out area of the film to the phototransistors and theprojection through the image area to the screen;

FIG. 4 is a detail perspective view of the film strip mounted in atypical cassette or cartridge type holder;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the basic layout of the inside of thevoting machine upper cabinet;

FIG. 6 is a general block diagram of the various operating elements ofthe voting machine showing the overall flow of the total system;

FIG. 7 is a wiring diagram ofa circuit board including latches anddrivers;

FIG. 8 also is a wiring diagram of a circuit board including votelatches and drivers;

FIG. 9 is a wiring diagram of the circuit board including propositionand write-in vote latches;

FIG. 10 is a wiring diagramof a circuit board incorporating thephotosense decode circuit;

FIG. 11 is a wiring diagram of the circuit board incorporating the voteswitch multiplexer;

FIG. 12 is a wiring diagram of the circuit board incorporating thecounter plane driver;

FIG. 13 is a wiring diagram of the circuit board incorporating the voteselection display drivers; and

FIG. 14 is a wiring diagram of the circuit board incorporating thevarious timing circuits.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The electronic voting machine of this inventionwill simplify machine voting by the average voter and provides apparatusthat will supply accurate election returns rapidly and while affordingsubstantially trouble free operation with minimum maintenance and givingfoolproof results. The machine may be used in single party primaryelections or in national or presidential elections where multipleparties are involved. The machine may be locked by an election officialin a primary election, after a voter has indicated a party preference,whereby voting by that voter is restricted to a particular party and allvoting elements other than those indicated by the voters preference areblacked out.

When a voter enters a polling place, usually the first step is toregister with an election official. The voter is then assigned to avoting machine and with the present machine the official then actuates amaster locking locking device to activate the machine for voting. The

unlocking operation may be performed at the machine,

as shown, by means of a key, or it may be under the control of anelection official at a remote location through the use of suitablecontrols for rendering the voting machine operative. The voter must theninsert a registration or identification card into a card sensing unit onthe machine which, if the card is properly programmed for that machine,will turn the machine on for voting and enable the voter to case a voteat that location. The voters card is programmed for such candidates orreferendums as may be authorized for voting in the voters district. Ifthe voter enters any polling place other than in the proper precinct,the registration card will not activate the machine and it will benecessary to proceed to the precinct where the card is authorized.

When the machine has been turned on for voting the voter actuates achange-image" button which causes a first image to be projected onto thevideo screen. This image includes a complete set of instructions foroperating the machine and after viewing the first image andunderstanding the instructions the voter again presses the change-imagebutton to advance the next image for projection onto the video screen.This first voting image may contain one or more groups of candidatesfrom which voting selections are made by the voter. Where a straightparty ticket is voted it is necessary to actuate a straight party votebutton, whereupon all votes cast by this voter would go to the severalcandidates in the party chosen. Ordinarily this would have the effect ofshutting off the machine by completion of the voting operation, but thevoter may cast one or more crossover votes for candidates in anotherparty while voting a straight ballot, in which event, controls providedin the machine prevent voting for directly opposing candidates for thesame office and which will act to cancel any unauthorized voteinadvertently cast.

If the voter chooses to vote individually for particular candidates itwill be necessary to press the several voting buttons for the respectivecandidates as chosen from their names appearing on the video screen.When the allotted voting buttons for candidates on the projected imagehave been actuated, the voter then presses the change-image button againto advance the next image for projection onto the video screen andsubsequent voting. Each time the change-image button is actuatedfollowing a voting image on the video screen the vote of the voter iscast and the selections registered in the machine.

Where the list of candidates appearing on the video screen may containthe 'name of one for whom the voter does not care to vote the voter maywrite in the name of a preferred candidate to be substituted. It becomesnecessary here to press a write-in button whereupon, through the mediumofa suitable mechanism and associated controls, a write-in slot isopened. to expose a write-in segment on a paper roll where the voterwrites in the name of a substitute candidate. This vote is automaticallyadvanced one turn on the paper roll when the voter again presses thewrite-in button to close the write-in slot. While the write-in slot isopen, the circuits for other voting buttons are deactivated and thecounters also are rendered inoperative.

An individual vote cast for a particular candidate may be canceled bypressing a cancellation button. This causes the light for the previouslyactuated voting button to go out while associated elements in the solidstate circuitry cancel the vote cast, whereupon a new voting selectioncan be made by pressing the appropriate voting button.

After all voting selections have been made by the voter; thechange-image button is actuated and the next frame containing the nextimage on the film strip is advanced for projection onto the videoscreen, the votes cast are registered in the machine and the votecounter is activated.

When a proposition or'a referendum is included in an image projectedonto the video screen and which requies a yes/no vote the voter utilizesthe appropriate yes or no button for registering a desired preference.When these propositions are. projected into the video screen all of thevoting buttons for candidates are automatically cut out. After voting onthe propositions the voter presses the change-imagebutton to advance thenext image for projection onto the video screen and at this time the yesor no votes cast are registered.

After all of the images on the film strip have been projected onto thevideo screen and the voting operation has been completed, thevotingmachine automatically shuts off when the votes are registered uponlast pressing the change-image button and the voter is unable to utilizethe machine to vote further. At this time the machine cannot be turnedon again by the voter and only an election official can render thevotingmachine operative again.

In this invention the same light source utilized to project votingimages from the'film strip onto the video screen also projects lightbeams through light dots provided in' otherwise blacked out areasadjacent to one or more edge portions of each frame or image on the filmstrip. These light beans are aimed to strike phototransistor units, eachof which comprises an electronic type switch that is activated or placedin an on" position when hit with such beam of light. Where a light doton th'efilm strip is blacked out the light beam will not pass andtherefore the corresponding phototransistor unit will not be activated.

The phototransistor units, as theyare activated, are effective toactivate the system of voting buttons, check alignment of the,.filmstrip, operate the vote counters and identify the type of voting as towhether it may be cumulative, proposition voting or ordinary voting.

Each'frame containing an image on the film strip includes a group oflightdots for the passage of light beams to corresponding group of phototransistors comprising identification units and one light dot passing alight beam to a corresponding phototransistor comprising an alignmentunit. The information from all of these phototransistor units is read byphotosensitive logic units. These groups of light dots andphototransistors are disposed in two'horizontal rows, as shown. The toprow of light dots is for the purpose of operating the proper votingbuttons in relation to each film frame and alignment of the film strip.The corresponding top row of phototransistors units activate the systemof voting buttons and checks film strip alignment.

The bottom row of light dots on the film strip is for the purpose ofoperating the identification of the proper counter in relation to eachimage frame; and to identify the kind of vote, cumulative, proposition,or ordinary, and the alignment of the film strip. The correspondingbottom row of phototransistor units operate proper counters andidentifies the vote and also operates the film strip alignment. Thephototransistor identification units comprise the bottom row ofphototransistors and are disposed in a group of five and a goup of threewith the five unit group identifying the film strip frame by number andhaving a capacility of 32 frames while the three unit group identifiesthe kind of vote.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIG. 1, the votingmachine of this inven- 'ing in a single party. The key, or keys, to thelock Ill and switch 12 is retained at all times by a proper electionofficial in order to control use ofthe voting machine for authorizedpurposesionly.

VOTING CONSOLE ARRANGEMENT The console 10 is provided with a videoscreen 20 upon which images are projected, one after another, showingthe various voting options available to the voter and from which thevoting choices are made. The images projected onto the screen arechanged successively by actuating a change-image button 21 which ispressed to bring the first image onto the video screen and is pressedagain each time it is desired to change the image on the screen 20 aftermaking voting selections from each image and each time the change-imagebutton is actuated the vote selections made are registered in themachine.

A series of straight party push buttons 22 is provided on the face ofthe console located immediately above the video screen 20 and theseenable a voter to vote a straight ballot in one party without thenecessity for making individual selections of each candidate listed onthe screen image. Cross-over'votes, however, may be cast for particularcandidates by pressing the appropriate pushbuttons provided forselecting individual candidates to be voted. Pressing an individualcandidate voting button in an opposing party while straight party votingin the opposite party has the effect of locking out the oppositecandidate so that the cross-over voting push button selected wouldcancel out the opposite candidate button in the straight party so thatthe casting of opposing votes is prevented. When a straight party votingbutton 22 is actuated, only the individual candidate buttons in anotherparty can be actuated to cast one or more individual votes, but thevoting push buttons for directly opposed candidates in the straightparty cannot be actuated.

A stop button 18 on the fact of the console 10 below the voting buttonsis provided to enable the voter to close off the voting operation of themachine after completing a straight party vote without the necessity forany further actuation of the machine. Pressing the stop button 18 aftera straight vote has been cast causes the vote to be registered in themachine and shuts down the voting machine so that no further voting canbe accomplished until an election official resets the machine for votingby the next voter. I

The individual candidate voting push bottons 23 are disposed in a groupon the fact of the console 10 and are located immediately below thevideo screen 20. When the voter makes a choice of candidates, selectedfromthe list of candidates appearing in the image projected onto thevideo screen, the corresponding button 23 is pressed in according tosuch selection and when pressed, lights up ans stays in the in positionuntil the change-image button is pressed to advance the film and changethe image, at which time the vote, or votes, cast are registered in thevoting machine. The voter knows exactly how he is voting when'he pressesone or more voting buttons 23 and this information appears on the screen20 each time one of the voting buttons is actuated. The projected imageon the screen includes a square or box 19 containing an X" which isetched on the back of the screen adjacent to the name of each candidatelisted and when a voting button 23 is pressed this X lights up in thesquare by means of a light bulb activated by the coting button 23. Asbest shown in FIG. the X lights up in the box 19 on the screen throughthe vote light bars 17 at the back side of the screen 20. When voting ona particular image has been completed the voter presses the change'imagebutton 21 which causes the projector apparatus to advance the film tothe next image which is projected onto the video screen wherein thevoter can then make voting selections from the image.

A cancellation button 24 is located on the face of the console below thegroup of candidate voting buttons 23 and by means of which a vote for acandidate may be cancelled by the voter before such vote is registeredin the machine. When this cancellation button is actuated the candidatevoting button 23 to be cancelled out returns to the unvoted normalposition and the light goes out, whereupon a different candidateselection may be voted. After the substitute voting selection is madeand all candidate voting selections are completed, the voters pressesthe change-image button 21 to advance the next image for projection ontothe screen 20 as heretofore described.

At one side of the video screen 20 a group of yes or no buttons 25 arelocated on the face of the console 10 for voting on propositions orreferendums requiring a yes or a no vote on one or more issues. Thesebuttons are disposed at the side of the video screen in directlycorrelated relationship to propositions contained in the image projectedonto the screen so that the issues being voted upon are readilydetermined. In addition, each proposition appearing in the projectedimage includes a pair of boxes or squares containing a Y and an Nrespectively which are etched on the back side pressed in the screen inalignment with the respective propositions and when a yes or a no buttonis pressedin to vote on a proposition, a light bulb for the respectivesquares activated by the yes or no buttons, respectively, is lighted toindicate exactly how each proposition has been voted.

At the outer side of the group of yes or no buttons 25, provision ismade for casting write-in votes in the form of a series of individuallymovable panels 26 normally closing write-in spaces on a paper record.The individual panels 26 are operable by corresponding push buttons 27to expose a particular write-in space on the paper record. The write-inpanels 26 and the operating push buttons 27 are correspondingly numberedand when the voter encounters a candidate in the image projected ontothe screen 20 where it is preferred to substitute a write-in candidateit is necessary merely to press the proper button 27 to make the properwrite-in space available to record the vote. When the voter comes to thename of a candidate listed in the image appearing on the screen 20 whereit is preferred to vote for a write-in candidate rather than thecandidate listed in the screen image, the voter observes the numberedbutton 27 in horizontal alignment with that candidates voting button 23and presses this write-in button which causes the correspondinglynumbered write-in panel 26 to open and expose the write-in paper recordwhere the voter writes in the name of the preferred candidate.

When a write-in button 27 is actuated, in addition to opening the panel26, it also deactivates the row of candidate voting buttons'23 inhorizontal alignment therewith so that a vote cannot be cast both bypressing a button 23 and by the write-in vote, but only the write-invote record will bejavailable and a vote by means of a button 23 in thisrow will not be registered in the machine. After writing in the name ofa preferred candidate on the paper record where the panel 26 is open thevoter again actuates the correspondingly numbered button 27 to close thepanel 26 over the write-in vote. When votingon this projected image iscompleted and the vapor presses the change-imagebutton 21 the votes castby actuation of the buttons 23 are registered in the voting machine andthe paper record is advanced one turn on the paper roll providedfor thatrecord which is removed from the machine after the election is completedand the paper record evaluated for inclusion of the totals in theelection returns. The paper record is disposed in a write-in vote unitremovably mounted in the console 10.

The console 10 also includes provision for indicating any malfunctionthat may occur in the solid state circuitry comprising the operatingelements of the machine and should this occur the voting machine iseither shut down and repaired or replaced by another machine. Any votescast and registered in the machine prior to the malfunction may becounted. The malfunction, when one occurs, is clearly indicated by anaudible beep through a speaker 36, which operates simultaneously with ablinking red light 37. The projection lamp utilized in the projectorapparatus for projecting images onto the video screen 20 as well as thelight beams through the film strip onto the phototransistor units, isautomatically turned off if a malfunction oc-' curs when the blinkingred light becomes operative.

VOTER REGISTRATION CARD SENSING SYSTEM The voting machine console 10includes apparatus enabling the voter to render the machine operable andwhich also has the effect of preventing the voter from utilizing anyvoting machine other than in the voters own precinct and voting on anyproposition or on any candidate other than those where the voter isauthorized to vote. This is accomplished by furnishing each registeredvoter with an identification or registration card which is adapted to beinserted into the sensing device in the console 10 through the slot 39.This registration card contains complete coding related to all taxingbodies encompassing the voters place of residence including sanitarydistricts, school districts or the like, and includes the precinctnumber of the voter for proper identification of the precinct. The cardsensing device in the console is programmed to accept and read anycombination of code numbers related to taxing bodies within the votersparticular precinct. When a card containing the necessary and propercoding is inserted in the slot 39, this sensing device will read thecoding and, if such coding is correct, activate the voting machine. Ifthe registration card is not properly coded for this particular votingmachine the machine will remain in the off position. Where all of theinformation coded on the registration card is correct for the particularvoting machine, the sensing device will read the coded information andnot only turn the machine on, but also cause the voting machine tobypass such candidates and referendums as the voter may not beauthorizcd to vote, as determined by the prccoded information includedon the card.

LOWER CONSOLE The upper console is mounted on a lower console cabinet 42which is provided with hinged doors 43 shown in the open position. Thelower console cabinet contains the equipment for the voting machineincluding the counter units which in FIG. I are indicated generally bythe reference character 44. The counters 44, in practice, are mounted inswing-out units for ready access thereto. The various circuitscomprising the operating circuitry for the machine are disposed oncircuit boards which are mounted behind the counter PROJECTOR SYSTEM Theprojector apparatus 48 is shown in the schematic illustration of FIG. 2and includes a projection lens 50 and a cassette or cartridge 49containing a film strip 51 (see FIG. 4) containing a plurality of votingimages 52 which are projected ontothe video screen by means of theprojection lamp 13 (see FIG. 6) which is mounted in the projectorhousing with the film strip between the lamp and the lens 50 so that thelight rays from the lamp pass through the film 51 and transmit the image52 onto the video screen one frame at a time the control of the votingmachine circuitry. The projector bulb 13 together with the projector 48,is indicated in the overall diagram of FIG. 6.

This film strip 51, as indicated by the arrows in FIGS. 3 and 4, movesin a downward direction as it advances, one image 52 at a time, forprojection onto the screen 20 and when the last image is reached andvoting completed, the film reverses and rewinds in preparation forsubsequent voting operations. At-each completion of a voting operationwhether by straight party vote, or by proceeding. through all of theseveral images, the film strip 51 rewinds to provide a new start for thenext voter. The film strip 51 contains blacked out areas 53 at thehorizontal edge between adjacent images 52 and at a vertical edge 54.Film strip perforations 55 are disposed continuously along the oppositevertical edge of the film. The blacked out areas contain light dots 56and 57 and which provide for the projection of light beam 59 throughtthe film strip 51 from the projection lamp and the. lens 50.

The light beams 59, as best shown in FIGS. 3, strike phototransistorunits 60 and 61, as indicated also in FIGS. 2 and 5, where it will beseen that the phototransistor units are disposed in two rows. The upperrow of transistor units 61 are utilized to activate the proper votingbuttons to be used for a particular image projected onto the screen 20while the bottom row of phototransistor units 60 are utilized for thepurpose of identifying the proper set of counters in relation to aparticular image as well as for the type of voting. FIG. 3 shows theprojection of the light beams 59 through the light dots 56 to both thetop and bottom phototransistor units. The light emitted through thesedots from the projection lamp is projected as a beam onto each of thephototransistor units and by blocking out the light dots so that onlycertain dots or groups of dots emit light beams, it is possible tooperate or exercise control over any number of operations in accordancewith the requirements dictated by the use to which the voting machine isto be put.

OPERATION The general block diagram of FIG. 6 illustrates the overalloperations of the voting machine and the total systems afforded by theelectronic circuitry included in the machine, as incorporated in theseveral circuits boards shown in FIGS. 7 through 14 of the'drawing andspecifically described hereinafter.

The wiring of the various circuit boards used in the voting machine isillustrated in the wiring diagrams of FIGS. 7 through 14 and it is thiscircuitry that accom plishes the various functions indicated in the useof the machine. On the circuit board 66 of FIG. 7 the latches 62, 63, 64and 65 are for the purposes of storing vote selections from two rows ofvote selection switches 23 and since these switches are polled by eachrow, the latches 62, 63, 64 and 65 will load or accept the appropriatevoting information only when the parallel energizing signal is activatedat the proper time in the polling sequence. Timing is provided by theinputs 67 and 68. Output from the latches 62, 63, 64 and-65 goes to thecircuit board 70 of FIG. 13 through the groups of lead wires 69 and 71to illuminate the appropriate vote selection indicators 19. The gates 72and 73 enable votes to be counted from either the vote selection latches62 and 63, or from the proposition latches 74 on the circuit board 75 ofFIG. 9.

The drivers 76, 77, 78, 79, and 81 drive a solenoid to activate theelectro-mechanical counters. For normal voting, drivers 76 and 77 willactivat the counters for one row of vote selection buttons 23 anddrivers 79 and 80 will similarly activate counters for one row of thebuttons. For cumulative voting, drivers 76 amd drovers 79 will activatecounters corresponding to the contents of latches 62 and 64respectively, when only one vote is cast. Where two votes are castdrivers 77 and 80 will drive the appropriate counters. When three votesare cast, drivers 78 and 81 will activate the proper counters. Todetermine the total vote for a particular candidate, the sum of thecount on the counters driven by the leads 82, 83 and 84 from one each ofthe drivers 76, 77 and 78 respectively, will necessitate calculation ofthese votes by the election judges.

Control of the number of votes cast and including provision to lock outovervoting is generated on the circuit board 85 of FIG. 8. The votelatches 162, 163, 164 and 165 on this circuit board as well as thecounter drivers I77, 178, and 181 are substantially identical inoperation to the corresponding elements on the circuit board 66, but thedrivers 177 and 178 will not be used in cumulative vote operations andwill be used only in normal vote selection. As distinguished from thecircuit board 66 however, the circuit board 85 incorporates a circuitincluding logic gates 86 and 87. This cirucit is provided for thepurpose of counting the number of cumulative votes cast as well as toprovide a cancellation feature which functions when the maximum numberof cumulative votes cast on a particular ballot is exceeded. The logiccircuit operates by sequentially counting the twelve latches used forcumulative votes, to determine the number of latches that are set. Ifnone of the latches is set, no count will be recorded when the changeimage button 21 is pressed to advance the next image. If but one vote iscast, this vote is recorded on a different set of counters for singlevotes. Where three votes may be permitted, such votes are recorded onanother set of counters, the proper sets of counters to record thevarious votes are selected by the decoding logic gates 87 which activatethe gates 179, 180, and 181, at the proper time in the sequence. Thiscount is made by sampling each of the twelve cumulative vote latches162, 163, 164 and 165 in a discrete interval of time and each activelatch will advance counters 92 and 93 by one increment. When the maximumvote allows is exceeded, the decoding circuit will reset the votecounters together with all of the associated latches, whereupon a newvote may be cast.

There are two circuit'boards 66 in each voting machine and two circuitboards 85', but circuit board 75, illustrated in FIG. 9, containd thelatches 74 for proposition votes and the latches 94 for write-in votesand but one of these boards is provided in each voting machine. Outputfrom the proposition latches is utilized to light up the displays on thescreen showing how propositions are voted. This output is also used torecord the vote count and the counters utilized to record this vote aredriven by drivers 76 and 77 on the circuit board 66 of FIG. 7. Theregular vote buttons 23 are deactivated during proposition voting sothat the counters for these votes are not used otherwise.

The output from the write-in latches is utilized to activate thesolenoids 28 that open and close the panels 26 covering the write-inspaces, whereby the voter is enabled to cast a write-in vote' on theroll of paper disposed in the removable write-in vote unit 29, asindicated in FIG. 5. The output from the write-in latches is used alsoto deactivate the regular voting buttons 23 as well as the cumulativevoting, Gates 95 are utilized to block cumulative voting while gate 96blocks regular voting by deactivating the set" lead of the appropriatevote latch. The deactivation of these vote latches is perfomedsequentially just as is the normal setting of each ofthe latches, andthe setting and resetting of all of the vote latches of the severalcircuit boards 66, 85 and 75 is performed by the gates 97, 98; 176, 177,and 101 respectively.

Gate 97 serves to activate the reset/set seaquence if any button on thevoting panel is depressed and this sequence is activated in synchronismwith the polling sequence that is used to sample the voting buttons, rowby row. This polling procedure is described more in detail hereinafterin relation to circuit board 105 illustrated in FIG. 11. The reset/setsequence is activated only when one voting button in each row isdepressed and gates 98, 73, 99, 76 and 77 on panel 66, will deactivatethe sequence if more than one buttom is depressed in the same row sothat multiple voting selections are thereby prevented where only onevote is permitted. Circuit board 105, includes provision for the timingfor the reset/set sequence. A memory circuit for the solenoid 28 openingand closing the write-in panels, is provided by the gates 86, 88 and 178on panel 85 and to control the paper drive mechanism. It is this circuitthat makes certain that the paper 30 for the write-in votes is advancedone increment when a write-in vote has been cast.

There is but one circuit board in the voting machine and it is thiscircuitry that serves to check the image photo-transistor informationfor accuracy and also provides for the decoding of this information. Theaccuracy of the image phototransistor information is checked four ways:r

1. Two of the phototransistor units are utilized as alignment units toinsure proper positioning of the film image 2. Parity check for theupper row of phototransistors 3. Parity check for the lower row ofphototransistors 4. Comparison of image counter output with three unitsof image number encoded on the film. All of these checks must besatisfied prior to the triggering of a two-second timer and inthe eventthat the film should become jammed, or stop without the align ment unitsin proper position, or if the projector bulb should burn out, thisinsures that the alarm 36, 3'7 indicate a malfunction.

The gates 102 in this circuitry convert the signals emanating from thephototransistor units 60 and 61 to the proper logic level of 0 to 5V.The gates 103 and 104i serve the purpose of checking the parity of eachof the two rows of phototransistor units. The gate 106 compares theimage identification count and the count contained in the image countregister 107. The leads lllll through 118 are used to determine thecolumn of vote switches that should be actuvated so that they will beavilable fo possible actuation if selected. Transistor drivers utilizedfor the purpose of supplying the current necessary to illuminate theappropriate columns of light emitting diodes in the vote selectionswitches.

The group of gates 108 acts to decode signals from phototransistor leads121 and 122 into four major politcal parties, Republican, Democrat, etc;while the group of gates 109 decodes signals from phototransistor leads123 and 1124 as follows:

1. Proposition vote 2. Cumulative vote 3. Cumulative vote with a maximumof two selections 4. Cumulative vote with a maximum of three selectionsand also activates the circuit to make the party ticket selectionsavailable. The counter 107 contains the number of the image being shownand gate 119 indicates the image that should be automatically advancedone or more increments.

The voting machine contains one circuit board 105, which is illustratedin FIG. 11, and the primary purpose of this circuit board is to samplethe switches. A basic clock signal is provided in the circuit by meansof an astable multivibrator 125. A counter 126 counts from zero to tenand then resets and this count is decoded at 127 into selectedone-of-ten signals and one of such signals is stepped through toactivate each row of vote switches 23 whereby a latch is activated inthe appropriate interval.

The gates 128 drive the center pole of each vote switch in a row, andthere are eleven rows of such switches, eight rows of regular voteswitches, one row of write-in vote switches, one row of proposition voteswitches and one row of straight party ticket vote switches. The bufferlatches 129 act temporarily to store the signal as to the status of thepositions of the switches in each row. Buffer latches 130 store thesignal with respect to straight party ticket selection, if any. Thegates 131 and 132 make the choice as to whether to present the straightparty ticket or the regular vote to the vote selection latches on thecircuit boards 66, 85, and 75. The gates 133 make certain that onlyapplicable voting switches will be able to register a voting selection.The drive to illuminate the straight party ticket buttons 22 is providedby drivers 134 when that selection is available and if a straight partyvote is cast the illumination of the selection will continue throughoutthis voting procedures. The shape of the reset/set sequence pulse, whichis used extensively to load latches on the circuit boards 66, 85 and 75,is determined at 135.

The circuit board 110 is used one to each voting machine andincorporates decoders 136 which utilize the count of the image counterto drive the appropriate vote counter plane. Discrete transistor driversare utilized to increase the current drive capability of the decoders136. The gates 137 deactivate the vote counter plane drivers until theappropriate timing pulse activates the drivers. A request for a newimage is made at 138 while resetting of the voting machine isaccomplished through the output line 139'. This reset circuit isactivated when the power is turned on and again when the entire votingprocedures has been completed. The three latches 140 are utilizedrespectively by the stop button 18, the change image button 21 and bythe election judges locking circuit 11.

The circuit board 70', one in each voting machine, is utilized solelyfor the purpose of converting voting selection signals from the logiclevel low current of to V to high current capability leads at 30V and300Ma, that are capable of triggering the electromechanical counters.

Circuit board 120 comprises the timing circuits for the machine and thevarious timing operations and pulses are as follows: FCN

Time Gate Output Counter drive timer 50 msce 141 142 Paper drive timer143 144 Projector increment timer 500-800 msce 145 146 148 Imageapproval delay 200 msce 147 Party ticket activator l0 msce 1 49 .150Automatic increment timer l msce 151 152 The relays 3 and 154 areutilized to drive the projector 48.

From the foregoing it will be seen that an electronic voting machine hasbeen provided utilizing a film strip for projecting individual imagesonto the video screen from a source of light which also sends lightbeams through light sensitive areas 'of the film to phototransistorunits which transmit photo-optical signals through the various circuitryto perform all of the functions involved in the voting machinesoperation.

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic voting machine including a video screen containing alight projected image, light means projecting said image from atransparency onto said screen, voting elements operatively mounted inthe machine, and means activated by light beams from said light meansdisposed in the path of said light beams between said light means andsaid video screen and enabling said voting elements to operate.

2. An electronic voting machine as set forth in claim 1' wherein saidmeans activated by light beams comprises a plurality of phototransistorunits.

3. An electronic voting machine as set forth in claim 2 including aplurality of voting buttons operative to effect a vote when saidphototransistor units activate said voting elements upon actuation ofsaid voting buttons.

4. An electronic voting'machine as set forth in claim 2 including a filmstrip from which said light projected image is projected onto said videoscreen, said film having a blacked out area containing light dots, andsaid light projecting means projects light beams through said light dotsonto said phototransistor units.

5. An electronic voting machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein saidphoto transistor units are disposed in two or more groups, and saidgroups of photo transistor units include means to effect activation ofsaid voting elements, alignment of said film strip and identification ofvoting categories for cumulative,proposition and ordinary voting.

6. An electronic voting machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein saidblacked out area is disposed adjacent to an edge of an image on the filmstrip, and said phototransistor units are disposed in alignment withlight dots located in said blacked out area of the film strip.

7. An electronic voting machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein saidfilm strip includes a plurality of images projected successively ontosaid video scree, an electronic circuitry, said light beams activatingsaid phototransistor units in said circuitry in accordance with voteselections made from each of said images, and means including aplurality of voting buttons operable in said circuitry to make said voteselections.

8. An electronic voting machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein saidlight dots include a series of such dots to project light beams ontophototransistor units to control operation of voting buttons andalignment of said film strip, and a seriesof such light dots directinglight beams onto phototransistor units to control operation of votecounters and identify voting categories and alignment of said filmstrip.

9. An electronic voting machine as set forth in claim 4 including aplurality of voting buttons and a logic unit, certain of saidphototransistor units feeding information to said logic unit, and acounter unit, said logic unit transmitting information to said votingbuttons and to said counter unit. 1

10. An electronic voting machine as set in claim 9 including a secondlogic unit and a projector, certain of said phototransistor unitsfeeding information to said second logic unit, and said second logicunit transmitting information to said projector and to said counterunit.

1 1. An electronic voting machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidmeans activated by light beams is disposed adjacent to said videoscreen.

12. An electronic voting machine as set forth in claim 11 wherein saidmeans adjacent to said video screen is located at the back side of thevideo screen.

13. An electronic voting machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein saidlight dots are disposed adjacent to an edge of said film strip and saidphototransistor units are aligned with respective light beams from saidlight dots.

14. An electronic voting machine as set forth'in caim 8 wherein saidlight dots include a row of light dots which activate phototransistorunits which control voting buttons, and a row of light dots whichactivate phototransistor units which control operation of vote counters.

projected through said dots.

17. An electronic voting machine as set forth in claim' 3 wherein saidphototransistor units feed information to logic units which transmit theinformation to said voting buttons and said light means.

1. An electronic voting machine including a video screen containing alight projected image, light means projecting said image from atransparency onto said screen, voting elements operatively mounted inthe machine, and means activated by light beams from said light meansdisposed in the path of said light beams between said light means andsaid video screen and enabling said voting elements to operate.
 2. Anelectronic voting machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said meansactivated by light beams comprises a plurality of phototransistor units.3. An electronic voting machine as set forth in claim 2 including aplurality of voting buttons operative to effect a vote when saidphototransistor units activate said voting elements upon actuation ofsaid voting buttons.
 4. An electronic voting machine as set forth inclaim 2 including a film strip from which said light projected image isprojected onto said video screen, said film having a blacked out areacontaining light dots, and said light projecting means projects lightbeams through said light dots onto said phototransistor units.
 5. Anelectronic voting machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein said phototransistor units are disposed in two or more groups, and said groups ofphoto transistor units include means to effect activation of said votingelements, alignment of said film strip and identification of votingcategories for cumulative, proposition and ordinary voting.
 6. Anelectronic voting machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein said blackedout area is disposed adjacent to an edge of an image on the film strip,and said phototransistor units are disposed in alignment with light dotslocated in said blacked out area of the film strip.
 7. An electronicvoting machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein said film strip includesa plurality of images projected successively onto said video scree, anelectronic circuitry, said light beams activating said phototransistorunits in said circuitry in accordance with vote selections made fromeach of said images, and means including a plurality of voting buttonsoperable in said circuitry to make said vote selections.
 8. Anelectronic voting machine as set forth in cLaim 4 wherein said lightdots include a series of such dots to project light beams ontophototransistor units to control operation of voting buttons andalignment of said film strip, and a series of such light dots directinglight beams onto phototransistor units to control operation of votecounters and identify voting categories and alignment of said filmstrip.
 9. An electronic voting machine as set forth in claim 4 includinga plurality of voting buttons and a logic unit, certain of saidphototransistor units feeding information to said logic unit, and acounter unit, said logic unit transmitting information to said votingbuttons and to said counter unit.
 10. An electronic voting machine asset in claim 9 including a second logic unit and a projector, certain ofsaid phototransistor units feeding information to said second logicunit, and said second logic unit transmitting information to saidprojector and to said counter unit.
 11. An electronic voting machine asset forth in claim 1 wherein said means activated by light beams isdisposed adjacent to said video screen.
 12. An electronic voting machineas set forth in claim 11 wherein said means adjacent to said videoscreen is located at the back side of the video screen.
 13. Anelectronic voting machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein said lightdots are disposed adjacent to an edge of said film strip and saidphototransistor units are aligned with respective light beams from saidlight dots.
 14. An electronic voting machine as set forth in caim 8wherein said light dots include a row of light dots which activatephototransistor units which control voting buttons, and a row of lightdots which activate phototransistor units which control operation ofvote counters.
 15. An electronic voting machine as set forth in claim 1wherein said means activated by light beams comprise light sensitiveelectronic switches actuated by said light beams.
 16. An electronicvoting machine as set forth in claim 15 including a film transparencyhaving a blackedout area with light dots in said area and said lightbeams are projected through said dots.
 17. An electronic voting machineas set forth in claim 3 wherein said phototransistor units feedinformation to logic units which transmit the information to said votingbuttons and said light means.